Joseph Vernet

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Value, estimation and price of the artist Joseph Vernet

Price of a painting: 2 500 – 5 400,000 €.

Estimate of a drawing: 400 – 32,000 €.

Price of an artist’s print: 70 – 1 300 €.

If you would like to have a work by Joseph Vernet appraised, our experts will take care of everything.

A known and recognised artist

Joseph Vernet was a French draughtsman, painter and engraver born on 14 August 1714 in Avignon and died on 3 December 1789 in Paris. He is very famous for his marines.

Joseph Vernet is the son of a craftsman-painter from Avignon and received his training as a painter in the South of France from masters such as Adrien Manglard and Philippe Sauvan. He left for Rome in 1734 thanks to a grant given by the Marquis de Caumont, as an art lover, to study marine works such as Claude Gellé aka Le Lorrain. Thanks to his travels, the Parisian salons and the Royal Academy, Joseph Vernet created a solid network of acquaintances. This network enabled him to extend the fashion for seascapes throughout Europe, especially after the commissioning of some twenty paintings of the ports of France in 1753 during the reign of Louis XV.

Jospeh Vernet has several prestigious clients who buy his paintings from him, such as the painter Gabriel Mathias or Empress Catherine II of Russia. He is also very close to the writer Bernardin de Saint-Pierre and, it seems, dissuaded him from destroying his manuscript of Paul and Virginia, after it failed to be read at the salon of the Swiss writer and salonnier Suzanne Curchod.

Representation of the ports of France

Of the twenty-four paintings of French ports commissioned by Louis XV, Joseph Vernet only produced fifteen paintings between 1753 and 1765. The ports of Marseille, Toulon, Bordeaux, La Rochelle and Dieppe are notably represented from different angles, with the specific activities of each region at the time. His works are true testimonies of life in French ports 250 years ago. These paintings bring him the recognition of several noble people who loved the navy, including the Marquis de Laborde.

Joseph Vernet takes up the sunset effects on the seascapes used by his idols, Poussin and Le Lorrain. Nevertheless, he manages to create his own style by leaving a large place for the sky in his paintings. He also makes his representations more vivid by adding people and scenes from everyday life.

The son, Carle Vernet, the grandson, Horace Vernet and the great-grandson, Émile Vernet-Lecomte de Joseph Vernet are also painters.

In the city of Avignon, a college is named after the painter.

Recognising Joseph Vernet’s signature

Like many artists, Vernet did not sign all of his works. However, you will find below an example of the signatures to give you an idea. Variations of these signatures do exist, do not hesitate to contact one of our experts to formally authenticate a signature.

Appraising and selling a Vernet’s artwork

If you own a Joseph Vernet’s artwork, use our online form for a free appraisal.

You will then be contacted by a member of our team of experts and auctioneers to give you an independent opinion of the market price. Should you wish to sell your painting or any other artwork, our specialists will also advise you on the various options available for selling at the best price.